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Having built a successful career in private equity\u2014including 13 years with formidable Carlyle Group\u2014Sameer Bhargava was probably not the most likely candidate to fill a CFO position at Clark Construction Group of Bethesda, Maryland.

The two businesses belonged to strikingly different worlds. Whereas Carlyle populated its world with leading-edge investment vehicles and innovative global assets, Clark has left its mark with signature skyscrapers and civic projects that are credited with transforming public spaces in a big way.

Still, both Washington, DC, area\u2013headquartered businesses share what arguably remains industry\u2019s greatest hiring determinant: a common geography.

Clark Construction\u2019s resume is filled with \u201chometown\u201d projects of stature, including The Wharf\u2014a pedestrian-oriented DC waterfront community\u2014and the National Museum of African-American History and Culture.

\u201cIn every block that you drive by, Clark is building something incredibly impressive,\u201d remarks Bhargava, who quickly emphasizes Clark\u2019s national footprint by mentioning other Clark credits, including San Francisco\u2019s Salesforce Tower and San Antonio\u2019s Frost Tower.

While Bhargava\u2019s enthusiasm for Clark\u2019s work is evident, he makes it clear that his move to Clark was driven by more than geography and the firm\u2019s A-list menu of cityscape projects.

\u201cIn medicine and other industries, you get better and smarter the more specialized you become, but in business it\u2019s quite the opposite,\u201d says Bhargava, who encourages others to \u201ctake the risk to be uncomfortable\u201d and \u201cdo things differently.\u201d \u2013Jack Sweeney